SAAD Membership

Membership of SAAD is open to any registered medical or dental practitioner or dental nurse whether based in the UK or abroad. Student membership of SAAD is free for dental and medical undergraduates registered at a university in the UK or Ireland.

SAAD Assessed Sedation Nurse Course

Dentists

The National Course in Conscious Sedation for Dentistry is both suitable as an introduction to postgraduate education in sedation and also as a refresher for practitioners wishing to remain up to date with current techniques and contemporary teaching. The programme offered changes frequently to meet the needs of practitioners both within practice, the Community Dental Service and secondary care. Practitioners are encouraged to enrol their dental nurse on the parallel programme as conscious sedation provision is essentially a team activity. SAAD’s teaching is provided by a faculty of the best known names in dental sedation within the UK. Our course provides a sound foundation in basic conscious sedation techniques. It also investigates the challenges of less commonly used techniques in the UK and those used in other countries. SAAD is well known for providing entertainment as well as sound education. This course provides an investment for patients and enjoyable continuing professional dental education for practitioners and dental nurses. The SAAD National Course provides theoretical and practical instruction in all aspects relating to the current use of Conscious Sedation techniques. The course is designed for practitioners who wish to commence the administration of sedation techniques and also as an update for those who wish to keep abreast of current professional standards. The teaching provides a core level of knowledge based on the current Dental Sedation Teachers Group guidelines which is appropriate to postgraduate education. Mainstream techniques (intravenous midazolam and Relative Analgesia) are covered in detail. Alternative and more advanced conscious sedation techniques are also discussed. Practitioners are encouraged to further their core knowledge with assisted / mentored practical training. Advanced techniques must only be considered where practitioners have considerable experience and appropriate clinical supervision.

Course Content

Aspects of anxiety and pain control, treatment planning and patient assessment. The use of behavioural management, selection and appropriate use of drugs for sedation techniques.

Physiology, anatomy and pharmacology relevant to Conscious Sedation.

Organisation of the dental team, medico-legal aspects of sedation, record keeping, psychological and physiological monitoring of the sedated patient.

Revision of the requirements of the General Dental Council in relation to the provision of Basic Life Support. Current UK Resuscitation Council Guidelines will be provided.

Clinical cases of various conscious sedation techniques are assessed and practitioners may have practical experience of Relative Analgesia.

Practitioners completing the SAAD Course are strongly advised to gain further practical and clinical experience, under the guidance of a practitioner experienced in the use of Conscious Sedation techniques. Sample programme

Clinical Supervision (New Starters)

The SAAD National course provides the underpinning knowledge and an introduction to the clinical skills required for providing safe conscious sedation but it is also necessary to undergo supervised clinical experience before embarking on independent practice.

SAAD has recently introduced schemes to facilitate to acquisition of 'supervised clinical experience' for both dentists an dental nurses. The SAAD training schemes are outlined in an article that can be downloaded here.

To Reserve a Place on the SAAD National Course

Please ensure that you are logged onto the website as a member to pay the discounted rate.

For courses later than the 'next available' please go to 'view all courses' or select the date from the list below.

We do keep a waiting list for cancellations on earlier courses. To be on the waiting list please register for a course you can attend, and then email courses@saad.org.uk quoting your four figure booking reference to request a transfer.

ABOUT SAAD

SAAD is at the forefront of postgraduate teaching of sedation techniques in dentistry.
The Society runs courses for the whole dental team encouraging the safe provision of conscious sedation. Other activities include providing scientific seminars, giving expert advice to other bodies including the Department of Health and the General Dental Council; providing experts for guidelines and standards documents; giving expert evidence to the courts; promoting research in the field of pain and anxiety control and providing individual support and advice to members.
Membership of the society is open to any registered dental or medical practitioner, dental nurse or dental therapist/hygienist.